Unique Viking Silver Treasure With Beautiful Jewelry And Rare Coins Found In Täby Outside Stockholm, Sweden
Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com – Archaeologists have investigated a significant Viking farm and burial ground located in Täby, near Stockholm, in Sweden. During this exploration, they uncovered the remains of 34 buildings and approximately 1,450 artifacts. Among these findings is a distinctive buried silver treasure that includes exclusive silver arm and neck rings, a silver amulet, pearls, and coin pendants. This discovery provides valuable insights into Viking history and culture.
Credit: Arkeologerna
“It has been an incredibly exciting investigation because the site contained so many different types of remains, such as graves, the settlement, and the silver deposit. We also conducted several scientific analyses, including DNA, which have yielded interesting results,” says John Hamilton, project manager at the Archaeologists, Statens historiska museer (National Historical Museums).
Situated on a small hill near the forest and fields in Viggbyholm, Täby, northeast of Stockholm, is a significant historical site comprising a large farm and an adjacent burial field. This area was inhabited for nearly 500 years, during which time residents engaged in farming, livestock keeping, and burial practices. The farm’s activity dates back to the Late Iron Age (approximately 500–1050 AD) and briefly continued into the High Middle Ages.
An archaeological survey conducted between 2020 and 2021 uncovered numerous structures and burials associated with 34 buildings. Among these were about fifteen structures identified as remnants of ritual activities, characterized by landfills where objects were interred. Additionally, archaeologists investigated five graves: three coffin graves and two cremation graves.
Credit: Arkeologerna
The excavation yielded approximately 1,300 artifacts from the farm area and an additional 150 from the burial field. The osteological materials (bones) and seeds found at the site provide insights into the economic activities of the farm, as well as its cultural practices related to food production, beverages, medicinal use, and religious rituals.
Credit: Arkeologerna
The discovery of the silver treasure was a remarkable event that garnered significant attention both in Sweden and internationally. Excavated from beneath an older house, under what is known as a lockstone, were the remains of a pot containing several silver necklaces and bracelets. Accompanying these items was an exclusive fabric bag adorned with coin pendants and pearls. The preservation of fabric alongside the silver treasure is particularly noteworthy, as the presence of silver ions helped preserve the textiles.
Credit: Arkeologerna
Within this bag were 12 coin pendants crafted from European and Islamic coins dating back to 904–997 AD. These coins originated from regions such as Persia, Bavaria, Bohemia, Normandy, and England. In addition to its silver contents, the linen bag also held another type of treasure, pollen from the Viking Age, which included grains and medicinal plants.
“The find is unique both for the composition of silver objects and the clear connection to farm remains and burial grounds. The treasure may have been buried at the conclusion of a long and grand ceremony to honor a high-ranking deceased woman. Simultaneously, the farm was closed,” says John Hamilton in a press release.
He adds, “The linen bag also had very exclusive silk details that must have been imported. It was probably a special bag that may have originally been used for something else, perhaps in a ritual context.”
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A large number of pottery shards were also found in the area. Some vessels are made of domestic clay but resemble a type of pottery common on the other side of the Baltic Sea. This may indicate that someone from outside settled in the Täby area. Scientific analyses, including DNA testing of skeletal remains from four men, were also conducted.
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“Unfortunately, it was too decomposed to provide a complete DNA analysis. However, we could determine who was related to each other—most were, while some came from outside and were not related to the others. This is interesting information that tells us more about the people who lived here,” says Hamilton.
Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
